Comments on: Finding the Budget Busters from Last Year http://www.mydollarplan.com/finding-the-budget-busters-from-last-year/ because money doesn't grow on trees Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:28:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Madison http://www.mydollarplan.com/finding-the-budget-busters-from-last-year/#comment-10288 Madison Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:21:08 +0000 http://www.mydollarplan.com/?p=1083#comment-10288 @ Brad: The fun of combining the budgets! I remember when my (now) husband and I moved in together, my spreadsheets got really complicated! @ Jon: When you finally decide to make the leap to Quicken, let me know! I'll be interested to hear how it goes. @ Brad: The fun of combining the budgets! I remember when my (now) husband and I moved in together, my spreadsheets got really complicated!

@ Jon: When you finally decide to make the leap to Quicken, let me know! I’ll be interested to hear how it goes.

]]> By: Madison http://www.mydollarplan.com/finding-the-budget-busters-from-last-year/#comment-10287 Madison Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:20:49 +0000 http://www.mydollarplan.com/?p=1083#comment-10287 @ Christina: Glad I'm not the only one who has a food category that ends up being a money pit! Let me know if you come up with some good solutions. @ Ken: The shock of the first winter in a new house. Doesn't it seem like no matter how much we budget for, it's always a surprise? @ Christina: Glad I’m not the only one who has a food category that ends up being a money pit! Let me know if you come up with some good solutions.

@ Ken: The shock of the first winter in a new house. Doesn’t it seem like no matter how much we budget for, it’s always a surprise?

]]> By: Jon http://www.mydollarplan.com/finding-the-budget-busters-from-last-year/#comment-10255 Jon Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:54:12 +0000 http://www.mydollarplan.com/?p=1083#comment-10255 I, too, track everything with MS Money, and am holding off on buying Quicken until it's absolutely necessary. My budget busters tend to be big items, like my daughter's wedding, refinishing our hardwood floors, buying a new car. Even when I have the money in savings for these things, I just have a tough time seeing it show up in the Total Expense column. I, too, track everything with MS Money, and am holding off on buying Quicken until it’s absolutely necessary. My budget busters tend to be big items, like my daughter’s wedding, refinishing our hardwood floors, buying a new car. Even when I have the money in savings for these things, I just have a tough time seeing it show up in the Total Expense column.

]]> By: Mike Piper at ObliviousInvestor.com | Money Smart Life http://www.mydollarplan.com/finding-the-budget-busters-from-last-year/#comment-10244 Mike Piper at ObliviousInvestor.com | Money Smart Life Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:04:47 +0000 http://www.mydollarplan.com/?p=1083#comment-10244 [...] Finding the Budget Busters from Last Year @ My Dollar Plan [...]

[...] Finding the Budget Busters from Last Year @ My Dollar Plan [...]

]]> By: Brad http://www.mydollarplan.com/finding-the-budget-busters-from-last-year/#comment-10206 Brad Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:56:13 +0000 http://www.mydollarplan.com/?p=1083#comment-10206 I have a psuedo budget. I estimate my expenses for each month and put them into three categories. 1: Have to pay or something bad will happen bills. Mortgage, utilities, etc. 2: Wiggle room bills. Food, I can cut back on cheaper foods or buy better. Credit cards, just how much over the minimum do I want? 3: Discretionary. Entertainment and things I can completely cut out. As the month goes on and I spend money on #2 I can think more about #3. I try to hold back to have a fair amount saved at the end of the month beyond my budget for some peace of mind that I did a good job lol. I've been doing it for so long that I really don't have to monitor it anymore. I've been debating to go the Quicken route and analyzing things more. Moving in with the gf so as our budgets become more intertwined I might do so. I have a psuedo budget. I estimate my expenses for each month and put them into three categories.
1: Have to pay or something bad will happen bills. Mortgage, utilities, etc.
2: Wiggle room bills. Food, I can cut back on cheaper foods or buy better. Credit cards, just how much over the minimum do I want?
3: Discretionary. Entertainment and things I can completely cut out.

As the month goes on and I spend money on #2 I can think more about #3. I try to hold back to have a fair amount saved at the end of the month beyond my budget for some peace of mind that I did a good job lol. I’ve been doing it for so long that I really don’t have to monitor it anymore.

I’ve been debating to go the Quicken route and analyzing things more. Moving in with the gf so as our budgets become more intertwined I might do so.

]]> By: ken http://www.mydollarplan.com/finding-the-budget-busters-from-last-year/#comment-10202 ken Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:00:29 +0000 http://www.mydollarplan.com/?p=1083#comment-10202 We are in our new home now and our electricity went up 75.00 last month..we realize winter is a bit higher...we've also had some other new costs that we're trying to get under our budget. Lots of learning these days! We are in our new home now and our electricity went up 75.00 last month..we realize winter is a bit higher…we’ve also had some other new costs that we’re trying to get under our budget. Lots of learning these days!

]]> By: Christina http://www.mydollarplan.com/finding-the-budget-busters-from-last-year/#comment-10201 Christina Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:51:16 +0000 http://www.mydollarplan.com/?p=1083#comment-10201 I have each month divided into 2 columns one is the budget and one is what we actually spent. I usually look over each month and adjust as we go. Our food money is the one that all ways seems to go over too.... I have each month divided into 2 columns one is the budget and one is what we actually spent. I usually look over each month and adjust as we go.

Our food money is the one that all ways seems to go over too….

]]>